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United States Patent |
5,727,822
|
Truong
|
March 17, 1998
|
Advanced door security lock
Abstract
The present invention relates, in one embodiment, to an apparatus for
holding a door. The apparatus includes a body member and a blocking member
rotatably coupled to the body member. The coupling is such that when the
body member is positioned vertically in front of the door, the blocking
member is disposed in one of a first blocking position and a second
blocking position. The blocking member, in the first blocking position,
contacts the door to hold the door at a first predefined position. The
apparatus, when the blocking member is in the second blocking position,
contacts the door to hold the door at a second predefined position. The
door is opened further in the second predefined position than in the first
predefined position.
Inventors:
|
Truong; David (San Jose, CA)
|
Assignee:
|
International Business & Technology Corporation (San Jose, CA)
|
Appl. No.:
|
608518 |
Filed:
|
February 28, 1996 |
Current U.S. Class: |
292/202; 16/82; 292/1; 292/DIG.15 |
Intern'l Class: |
E05C 003/04 |
Field of Search: |
292/288,297,1,238,DIG. 15,194,202
16/82
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1082432 | Dec., 1913 | Mertsheimer | 292/DIG.
|
5383254 | Jan., 1995 | Wigley, Sr. | 292/DIG.
|
5490304 | Feb., 1996 | Winner, Jr. et al. | 292/DIG.
|
Primary Examiner: Lindsey; Rodney M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hickman Beyer & Weaver
Claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for holding a door, comprising:
a body member; and
a substantially planar blocking member rotatably coupled to said body
member such that when said body member is positioned vertically in front
of said door, said blocking member is disposed in one of a first blocking
position and a second blocking position, wherein said blocking member, in
said first blocking position, contacts said door to hold said door at a
first predefined position, said door being closed when held at said first
predefined position, said apparatus, when said blocking member is in said
second blocking position, contacts said door to hold said door at a second
predefined position, and wherein said door is opened further in said
second predefined position than in said first predefined position, wherein
said blocking member lies in a first plane and said apparatus is symmetric
about a second plane containing said first plane of said blocking member
and said body member, thereby allowing said apparatus to hold said door at
said first predefined position and said second predefined position
respectively, irrespective of an orientation of said apparatus when so
positioned.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blocking member comprises a lock
arm having a blocking edge, said blocking edge contacting said door when
said blocking member is disposed in said first blocking position to hold
said door at said first predefined position, said blocking edge, when said
blocking member is disposed in said second blocking position, does not
contact said door when said door is held at said second predefined
position.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said blocking member further comprises
a bar coupled to said lock-arm, wherein said door is held at said second
predefined position by at least two contact points, two of said at least
two contact points representing ends of said lock-arm.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a third contact point of said at least
two contact points represents a contact point on said body member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second blocking position is
achieved by rotating said blocking member about 180 degrees from said
first blocking position.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said body member is arranged to be
disposed in a hole in a floor, wherein a plane formed by said blocking
member is substantially perpendicular to said body member when said
blocking member is disposed in said first blocking position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blocking member comprises a lock
arm and a bar coupled to said lock arm in a T configuration to permit said
lock arm to contact said door when said blocking member is disposed in
said first blocking position to hold said door at said first predefined
position.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second blocking position is
achieved by rotating said blocking member about 180 degrees from said
first blocking position.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blocking member is substantially
parallel to a horizontal plane and is disposed toward said door when said
blocking edge is disposed in said first blocking position.
10. A method for blocking a door from being forcibly opened from either a
first predefined position or a second predefined position, comprising:
providing a body member;
rotatably coupling a substantially planar blocking member to said body
member such that when said body member is positioned in front of said
door, said blocking member is disposed in one of a first blocking position
and a second blocking position, wherein said blocking member, when
disposed in said first blocking position, contacts and prevents said door
from being further moved in a direction toward said body member from said
first predefined position, said door being closed when held at said first
predefined position, said door, when said blocking member is disposed in
said second blocking position, is prevented from being further moved in
said direction toward said body member from said second predefined
position, wherein said blocking member is symmetric about said body
member, thereby allowing said blocking member to hold said door at said
first predefined position and said second predefined position
respectively, irrespective of an orientation of said blocking member when
so positioned; and
further pivoting said blocking member from said second blocking position to
said first blocking position in a first orientation of said body member,
and pivoting said blocking member from said second blocking position to
said first blocking position in a second orientation of said body member
180 degrees from the first orientation of said body member.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said body member is in contact with said
door when said blocking member is disposed in said second blocking
position and said door is positioned at said second predefined position.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said blocking member also contacts said
door when said blocking member is disposed in said second blocking
position and said door is positioned at said second predefined position.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein said body member is rotatable from said
first blocking position to said second blocking position without moving
said body member.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said blocking member comprises a lock
arm and a bar coupled to said lock arm.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said lock arm and said bar is coupled in
a T configuration.
16. An apparatus for blocking a door from being forcibly opened from either
a first predefined position or a second predefined position, said door
being opened further in said second predefined position than in said first
predefined position, said apparatus comprising:
a body member; and
a substantially planar blocking member rotatably coupled to said body
member such that when said body member is positioned in front of said
door, said blocking member is disposed in one of a first blocking position
and a second blocking position, said blocking member, when disposed in
said first blocking position, contacts and prevents said door from being
further moved in a direction toward said body member from said first
predefined position, said door being closed when held at said first
predefined position, said door, when said blocking member is disposed in
said second blocking position, is prevented from being further moved in
said direction toward said body member from said second predefined
position by said apparatus, and wherein said blocking member is rotatable
from said first blocking position to said second blocking position without
moving said body member, wherein said blocking member lies in a first
plane and said apparatus is symmetric about a second plane containing said
first plane of said blocking member and said body member, thereby allowing
said apparatus to hold said door at said first predefined position and
said second predefined position respectively, irrespective of an
orientation of said apparatus when so positioned.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said body member is in contact with
said door when said blocking member is disposed in said second blocking
position and said door is positioned at said second predefined position.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said blocking member also contacts
said door when said blocking member is disposed in said second blocking
position and said door is positioned at said second predefined position.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said blocking member comprises a
U-shaped lock arm and a bar coupled to said lock arm.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said blocking member comprises a lock
arm and a bar coupled to said lock arm in a T configuration to permit said
lock arm to contact said door when said blocking member is disposed in
said first blocking position to prevent said door from being moved in a
direction toward said body member from said first predefined position.
21. An apparatus for blocking a door from being forcibly opened from either
a first predefined position or a second predefined position, said door
being opened further in said second predefined position than in said first
predefined position, said apparatus comprising:
a body member, said body member having a hole therethrough and a slot
therethrough;
a substantially planar blocking member including a lock arm coupled to a
bar, said blocking member being rotatably inserted through said hole of
said body member such that when said body member is positioned in front of
said door, said blocking member is disposed in one of a first blocking
position and a second blocking position, said blocking member, when
disposed in said first blocking position, contacts and prevents said door
from being further moved in a direction toward said body member from said
first predefined position, said door being closed when held at said first
predefined position, said door, when said blocking member is disposed in
said second blocking position, is prevented from being further moved in
said direction toward said body member from said second predefined
position by said apparatus, and wherein said blocking member is rotatable
from said first blocking position to said second blocking position without
moving said body member, wherein said apparatus is symmetric about said
body member, thereby allowing said apparatus to hold said door at said
first predefined position and said second predefined position
respectively, irrespective of an orientation of said apparatus when so
positioned; and
a pin coupled to said blocking member, said pin being arranged to rotate
within said slot of said body member to constrain rotation of said
blocking member at its extremities to said first blocking position and
said second blocking position.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein:
said bar has a first opening and a second opening therethrough, wherein
said lock arm is U-shaped, said lock arm having a first end and a second
end, wherein said first end of said lock arm extends through said first
opening of said bar and said second end of said lock arm extends through
said second opening of said bar.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said body member is in contact with
said door when said blocking member is disposed in said second blocking
position and said door is positioned at said second predefined position.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said first end of said lock arm and
said second end of said lock arm also contact said door when said blocking
member is disposed in said second blocking position and said door is
positioned at said second predefined position, thereby allowing said body
member, said first end, and said second end to contact said door.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a methods and apparatus for use in home
and office security. More particularly methods and apparatus for securely
keeping a door from being forcibly broken down, both while it is closed
and while it is partially open, are disclosed.
Crime rates, particularly rates pertaining to home-invasion crimes, are on
the rise. As such, the issue of home security is of considerable concern
to many people. Since a substantial percentage of home-invasion crimes
begins with the act of a door being broken down, specialized door security
devices have been developed to prevent doors from being broken down from
the outside.
Although existing door security devices in the market today have been shown
to be effective in preventing doors from being broken down from the
outside when the door is completely closed, these existing devices are not
particularly effective at securing the door in its partially open state,
e.g., when the occupant desires to open the door partially to identify the
caller, to receive mall or packages, to allow in pets, or the like.
In view of the foregoing, what is desired is improved methods and apparatus
for securely keeping a door from being forcibly broken down, both in its
closed state and in its partially open state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in one embodiment, to an apparatus for
holding a door. The apparatus includes a body member and a blocking member
rotatably coupled to the body member. The coupling is such that when the
body member is positioned vertically in front of the door, the blocking
member is disposed in one of a first blocking position and a second
blocking position. The blocking member, in the first blocking position,
contacts the door to hold the door at a first predefined position. The
apparatus, when the blocking member is in the second blocking position,
contacts the door to hold the door at a second predefined position. The
door is opened further in the second predefined position than in the first
predefined position.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for blocking a
door from being forcibly opened from either a fast predefined position or
a second predefined position. The method includes the steps of providing a
body member and rotatably coupling a blocking member to the body member.
The coupling is such that when the body member is position in front of the
door, the blocking member is disposed in one of a first blocking position
and a second blocking position. The blocking member, when disposed in the
first blocking position, contacts and prevents the door from being further
moved in a direction toward the body member from the first predefined
position. The door, when the blocking member is disposed in the second
blocking position, is prevented from being further moved in the direction
toward the body member from the second predefined position.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent
upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various
figures of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of an Advanced Door Security lock in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of a first configuration of the
body member of an Advanced Door Security lock in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of a second configuration of the
body member of an Advanced Door Security lock in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the body member of an Advanced Door Security
lock shown with the mechanism which constrains the rotation of the bar and
the blocking member of the Advanced Door Security lock in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional illustration of a receptacle which is used to
support an Advanced Door Security lock in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional illustration of an Advanced Door Security lock
in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a
few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art, that
the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these
specific details. In other instances, well known structures and process
steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily
obscure the present invention.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown an Advanced Door Security
(ADS) lock in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The ADS lock comprises a lock-arm 104, a bar 106, and a body
member 108. Lock-arm 104 is mechanically coupled to bar 106, and the
combination of lock-arm 104 and bar 106 forms what will herein be referred
to as a blocking member. The blocking member is rotatably coupled to body
member 108. In this embodiment, the blocking member is comprised of
lock-arm 104 and bar 106, which are formed as individual pieces. However,
in general, the blocking member may be made up of only one piece, i.e.,
lock-arm 104 and bar 106 may be formed as a single part.
In order for the ADS lock to secure a door, the ADS lock must is mounted to
a floor, or a similar surface, at the foot of a door such that when an
attempt is made at opening the door, the door contacts the ADS lock. In
some cases, the ADS lock may be mounted directly into the floor. In
others, body member 108 may be mounted in a receptacle (not shown) which
may be attached to the floor using mechanical screws or an adhesive. The
receptacle may also include holes or a sleeve to physically support body
member 108.
In this embodiment, body member 108 is mounted vertically in front of a
door 102 it is intended to secure. The location of body member 108 is such
that when the blocking member of the ADS lock is in a first blocking
position, lock-arm 104 makes contact with door 102 to hold it in a first
predefined position as shown in FIG. 1. Typically, when door 102 is
closed, it is considered to be in the first predefined position although
this first predefined position may also represent a slightly open door.
The portion of lock-arm 104 which contacts door 102 when the blocking
member is in a first blocking position is heroin referred to as a blocking
edge 110. When body member 108 is positioned in front of door 102,
blocking edge 110 is positioned in the first blocking position such that
blocking edge 110 comes into contract with door 102 to hold it in the
first predefined position. More preferably, blocking edge 110 is in a
horizontal position, i.e., it is parallel to the plane of the floor.
The blocking member is rotatably coupled to body member 108 by means of a
thru-hole 140 in body member 108 in which bar 106 of the blocking member
is placed. Thru-hole 140 should be large enough to accommodate bar 106 and
provide enough clearance to allow bar 106 to rotate in thru-hole 140 about
its center-line. As bar 106 rotates, due to the fact that lock-arm 104 is
mechanically coupled to bar 106, lock-arm 104 and blocking edge 110 also
rotate with respect to the center-line of bar 106.
The rotation of bar 106 is preferably mechanically constrained, i.e., bar
106 is free to rotate only within a fixed range. A pin (shown in greater
detail in subsequent FIGS. 2 and 3) is inserted into bar 106 through a
thru-slot 142 in body member 108. The pin rotates within thru-slot 142 and
serves to constrain the rotation of bar 106. Rotation is constrained when
the pin reaches the bottom of thru-slot 142, thereby holding the blocking
member at either the first blocking position or the second blocking
position.
In one embodiment, when the blocking member is in the second blocking
position, ends 130 and 134 of lock-arm 104 make contact with door 102 to
hold it at a second predefined position. In some cases, depending upon the
dimensions of body member 108, body member 108 may come into contact with
door 102 to furnish a third point of contact to more securely hold door
102 in the second predefined position.
The second blocking position of the blocking member holds door 102 in the
second predefined position, which is generally a position in which door
102 is opened wider than it is when it is in a first predefined position.
By way of example, in some embodiments, the first predefined position will
be when door 102 is closed, and the second predefined position will be
when door 102 is open approximately 2.5 inches. In others, the blocking
member is preferably dimensioned such that second predefined position is
reached when door 102 is open approximately 3 feet, e.g., enough to allow
a single person to enter as in crowd control applications. In general, the
second blocking position may be reached by rotating the body member away
from the first blocking position. More preferably, the blocking member is
placed at the second blocking position by rotating it 180 degrees from the
first blocking position, e.g., by flip it around the axis of bar 106.
Alternatively, it is contemplated that the blocking member, when in the
first blocking position, is disposed such that its plane is substantially
parallel to the ground and points toward the door, i.e., its blocking edge
is closer to the door than the bar. In the second blocking position, the
blocking member may be mechanically constrained at a slight angle,
preferably pointing toward the door, to permit the door to be slightly
open. The angle may be either upward or downward. Further, it is
contemplated that mechanical devices, e.g., a spring, may be provided to
help the blocking member to return to the first blocking position from the
second blocking position.
Referring next to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional illustration of a configuration
of aforementioned body member 108 will be described in detail. As
previously mentioned with respect to FIG. 1, thru-hole 140 in body member
108 serves to hold bar 106 while enabling the bar to rotate about its
center-line. Bar 106 contains a pin 202 which rotates in thru-slot 142
with bar 106 (and constrained when pin 202 reaches the bottom of thru-slot
142. In this configuration, bar 106 and the lock-arm, e.g. bar 106 and
lock arm 104 of FIG. 1, which comprise the blocking member as previously
described must be made of more than one piece to enable bar 106 to be
inserted through the thru-hole 140.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of another configuration of body
member 108. In this configuration, body member 108 is comprised of two
pieces, a body stem 306 and a body cap 304, which are held together with
fasteners 300 and 302. Fasteners 300 and 302 may represent, for example,
screws or the like. Pin 202 and thru-slot 142 are again shown. As
described with respect to FIG. 2, thru-hole 140 in body member 108 serves
to hold bar 106 which, in turn, contains pin 202. As previously mentioned,
pin 202 rotates in thru-slot 142 while bar 106 rotates about its
center-line. In this configuration, the lock-arm, as for example lock-arm
104 as described with reference to FIG. 1, and bar 106 are not required to
be constructed of more than one piece. The fact that body member 108 is
comprised of body stem 306 and body cap 304 makes it possible for a
one-piece blocking member to be placed in thru-hole 140.
Referring next to FIG. 4, the mechanism which serves to constrain rotation
of bar 106 (and concomitantly of the blocking member) will be explained in
detail. FIG. 4 is an illustration of body member 108, which is shown as
being of a one-piece construction, although it may also be comprised of
two pieces as described above with reference to FIG. 3. Bar 106 contains
pin 202 which rotates in thru-slot 142 and serves to constrain the
rotation of bar 106 as it rotates about its center-line. When pin 202
comes to rest at the bottom of thru-slot 142, as shown, bar 106 is
constrained from rotating any further in the direction it was rotating
when pin 202 came to a rest. It should be clear that thru slot 142 extends
through the bar; as such, pin 202 may come to rest in two positions, the
position as shown in FIG. 4, and a position on the other side of body
member 108.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional illustration of a receptacle which may be used
to support body member 108 of the ADS lock to more securely hold the ADS
lock to the floor. Body member 108, as shown in FIG. 5, is a rod comprised
of sections 532 and 530 which may have different diameters. The receptacle
is comprised of a plate 500 which is mounted on a floor or similar surface
to support body member 108. Plate 500 has a portion 520, e.g., a sleeve or
a closed-end tube, which may be embedded into an opening in the floor and
serves to more securely hold section 530 of body member 108.
Alternatively, portion 520 may be integral with the plate, i.e., the
sleeve or the closed-end tube is self-contained within the plate, so no
alteration or drilling of the floor is necessary. This embodiment is
highly advantageous in situations where it is not possible or desirable to
create a hole in the floor to accommodate a portion 520 that is in the
floor. To further reduce the alteration to the floor, the plate may be
attached to the floor using, for example, an appropriate adhesive. Plate
500 may also have tapered edges 502 and 504, which serve to create a
smooth transition between the boundary of plate 500 and the floor. Either
an adhesive or fasteners 510 and 512, e.g., screws or the like, may be
used to secure plate 500 to the floor.
Referring next to FIG. 6, there is shown a cross-sectional illustration of
an ADS lock in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The ADS lock of this embodiment comprises a lock-arm 604, a bar
606, and a body member 608. Lock-arm 604 is analogous in function to
lock-arm 104 of the previous embodiment. Similarly, bar 606 and body
member 608 are analogous in function to bar 106 and body member 108,
respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. As before, the combination of lock-arm
104 and bar 106 comprises a blocking member. The blocking member as shown
in FIG. 6 is shaped like the letter "T." The blocking member is rotatably
coupled to body member 608. In this embodiment, the blocking member is
comprised of one piece, although lock-arm 604 and bar 606 may be separate
elements which are mechanically coupled. A blocking edge 610, analogous in
function to blocking edge 110, comes into contact with a door to hold it
in a first predefined position.
To hold the door in a second predefined position, the blocking member is
preferably rotated such that an end 630 of bar 606 contacts the door. End
630 is analogous in function to ends 130 and 134 as described with
reference to FIG. 1, contacts the door. A pin 602 passes through a
thru-slot 642 which extends through body member 608 to hold the blocking
member while enabling it to rotate. The arch through which the blocking
member may rotate is constrained by a notch 646 in the body member 608.
When bar 606 contacts the bottom of notch 646 in body member 608, the
blocking member is stopped from rotating any further in the direction in
which it was rotating when contact was made.
Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been
described, it should be understood that the present invention may be
embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention. In particular, although only two configurations of
the blocking member have been disclosed, it should be clear that many
other configurations may be embodied without departing from the spirit or
the scope of the invention. Some possible configurations include, but are
not limited to, configurations in which the blocking member is Y-shaped
and configurations in which the blocking member is simply a single bar,
e.g., without lock arm 604, or a plate.
In some embodiments of the present invention, it may be desirable to
incorporate the use of roller bearings with the blocking member to extend
the life of the ADS lock. Similarly, the use of a bearing surface, as for
example a coating of Teflon.TM., may be implemented in place of an actual
mechanical bearing. Therefore, the present examples are to be considered
as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be
limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope
of the appended claims.
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